Tim Keller was asked about cessationism at about 49 mins in the video below. Interestingly he stated he was a moderate cessationist (or “80% cessationist”) himself. By which he meant that although he did believes some miracles have continued, he believes many reported miracles are not real.
He made a very important point, that a fear of experience often accompanies cessationism, and he believes that hinders revival. I have said many times that my main quarrel with cessationism is not really with the moderates like Keller, but with those who seem to leave no room at all for experience of God.
Indeed, Keller was very comfortable preaching to charismatics here in London even speaking about an experience he had:
Tim then joked, “I’m a Presbyterian so I don’t hear God as often as you do”! But went on to tell us how years ago he was reading Romans 1:16 and suddenly a thought came: “He who through preaching is righteous will die a thousand deaths every Saturday night” Tim said “even Presbyterians know where that came from!” – Read the rest
If only all cessationists were as understanding of us!
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